[13.02.2ÎÎ4] Kyrgyzstans Khaydarken Reduces Mercury Output 23%

Kyrgyzstan's Khaydarken Mercury Combine, the only mercury producer in Central Asia, reduced production 22.6% in 2003 to 370 tons, primarily due to an accident last June that flooded all auxiliary shafts and mining horizons, general director Toktobek Sartbayev said.

Following the accident, which was caused by an electricity shutdown, the company began mining upper horizons that were mined previously and have much lower-grade ore.

A government commission put direct damages at 21 million soms. Together with the aftermath, damages have now run up to 85 million soms, Sartbayev said sat at a Foreign Trade and Industry meeting.

The company has now pumped out almost all the water, and plans to get back to work as usual by May, he said.

The combine also produced 3,973 tons of fluor-spar concentrate and 41 tons of antimony in concentrate in 2003. Commercial output totaled 97 million soms.

Sartbayev said high electricity costs were a key factor preventing production growth. Electricity now makes up 40% of costs, up from 10% in 1996, he said, adding that 73% of consumed electricity is used to pump out water.